A New Business or a New Job: Your Path to Success

JACK
There has been a tremendous amount of concern over this past year about the number of jobs lost. It has now become a cause of major concern, not only to the politicians, but to all of the people suddenly experiencing a lost of income. We all know the many causes and too many are feeling the pain as a direct result.

This problem has occurred many times in the past and we have recovered, but it is no longer an academic question because too many people are suffering. The last major occurrence was in the mid 1990’s when many businesses had to “downsize”. It became absolutely essential that the companies reduce their expenses so that they could continue to operate. In 1996, I took on the personal project of writing a book that I hoped would help as many people as possible. This book is still in circulation and available at Amazon.com. The title is “ There is No Business Like Your Business”: How to turn your knowledge into personal profit.

I felt then as I do now, that part of the answer lies in an individual ability to start his or her own business. One of the great facets of Americans is an ability to recognize a situation and start new businesses that not only provide them with employment but others as well. In 2009 we must either find a business or get a job in an arena that is still hiring.

I am going to go into two sections. The first, what to look for when starting a business and the second, how to be most effective in finding a job. These thoughts have grown from a lifetime of experience in the commercial markets of the world.

To start your own business, you must:
1. Find a need and fill it. You cannot create the need. It has to be there.
2. You must research this area and find out who is operating in your newly chosen field and who is the most successful. This research has become very simple with the use of the internet. You can learn anything about what exists by going through the search engine and entering the type of business.
3. After you have studied what exists, try to think of what you are capable of that can do the job even better.
4. Many people that have been downsized (fired or terminated) have found that they could do the function they had been doing and could actually provide their former company with these services. This is a very intelligent thing to do because you really know what you are doing but you are not an item of permanent expense to the company. Many people have made more money this way than by receiving a salary from the company.
5. Create a business plan where you outline not only what must be done, but the sequence it needs to be completed. In this plan, you must have a realistic projection of the amount of capital that would be needed.
6. Whatever money you think you need, it is very likely you have not figured enough, so increase that number by 50%. The last thing you want to do is to start a business and not be able to finish it because of lack of funds.
7. Make sure it is something that you really love to do. The more you personally like it, the better chance there is for success.
8. Try to start with little steps before making a major commitment. For example, if you have a product in mind, first decide how much it will cost to make by outsourcing it, then have a handmade sample made and sell it to a prospect who would be able to give you and order.

How to Find and Interview for a job:
1. Choose the field that you would really like to be in.
2. Check the companies that are operating successfully in this arena and study the products and services they offer.
3. Read carefully the list of their executives, heads of departments, board members and try to find someone with whom you can connect.
4. The most important factor is to find someone with whom you can relate and contact that individual.
5. On the first discussion, you should present an idea you are capable of executing that would make you very valuable to this company.
6. Part of your research should be to dig into your own capabilities and experience so that you can highlight those areas that would be most helpful to the company you have chosen to approach.
7. Even if you have gotten your introduction through an employment agency you should do all the research you can in advance. An expectant employer will be mightily impressed with your knowledge of his business.
8. When you are interviewed, talk in terms of the companies needs, not your own. Show them how you could be a valuable permanent employee.
9. Be positive, confident, and creative.

In the course of my own experience, I have interviewed and hired thousands of people. When someone came along that showed the qualities mentioned above, I really wanted to hire them and found a way to do just that.

Looking for a job or finding a new business is a lonely pursuit. You must have the guts to pursue it after you have made a decision in which direction you are going.

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